brinckmann



0. G. A. BRI'GKMANN.

CIGAR MACHINE.

Patented Sept.=6,- 1864 m: NQRRXS PETERS co. PHOTQLITHOA wnswmcn'ou u 0.

' UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

C. G. A. BRINOKMANN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CIGAR-MACH! NE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 44,070, datedseptemberfi 4 cigars; but in all the machines of which I have anyknowledge many radical defects or 0bjections exist which I- propose bymy invention to effectuallv overcome.

The most successfully operating machines which have been heretofore madehave been those in which the operation of covering the bunch (to form acigar) has been performed between endless moving bands, and havingconically-shaped headers or cone-like cavities, within which the head ofthe cigar was formed by compressing the blunt end of the bunch or core,and working it into a conical form while wrapping'itwith the outside orcovering leaf of tobacco. This kind of machine has been made with theendless bands arranged and traveling in a direction about at rightangles to the axis of the cigar, and also with the said bands arrangedso that one would move across the other in aslightly-oblique directioninstead of at right angles to the cigar. Ihe principal practicaldifliculties encountered in the use of these two modes of constructionmay be thus briefly stated: first,the impracticability of compressinginto'a conical form the blunt (cutoff square) end of the core or bunch,especially during the opeeation of Wrapping or covering the bunch;secondly, in that kind of endless-band machine in which the bands runboth at right angles to the cigar-stock, it is a very difficult matterto guide the wrapper so that its hook will come up to the right point toperfectly form the conical head of the cigar, and hard to regulate thetension on the wrapper to make it wind evenly and tight over the core orbunch without breaking the'wrapper; thirdly, on account of the naturaltendency of the yielding or elastic bands to assume straight lines andcome together where the cigar is confined between them there is atendency to roll the cigar'oval or irregular in cross-section and to.compress the core too much; 'fourthly,

thereis great difficulty in forming the conical head well, the surfacesbetween which it turns being perfectly dead or stationary, while thecigar turns therein; fifthly, in the machines in which the endless bandswere run obliquely across each other, one passing at an. angle to theaxis of the cigar, (the same defects relative to'forming the conicalhead existed,) and the tendency and effect of the obliquity of therolling band was to twist the core or bunch and make it too tight orsolid and thus spoil the cigar; sixthly, in that kind of machines inwhich the rolling bands'or surfaces ranboth at right angles to the axisof the cigar, it was necessary, inorder to work them at all, that thecore and cigar formed should be just about a given length and size,or afailure in the cigar produced was the result,while in that kind in whichone of .the bands passed obliquely across the ,cigar the latter would Loften be forced too hard up toward and into the conical socket, thustwisting and ruflling up the wrapper, and the core of the cigar would heoften twisted, spoiling it entirely. There areother difficulties (intucking the wrapper,&c.) in working these machines'which can only bepartially overcome by a most expert operator, so that they have notproved successful and beneficial inventionsso far. There have been otherkinds of cigar-machines suggested and operated than those particularlyalluded to; but as they have not worked even so well as those mentioned,I will not allude to them here.

My invention has for its objects an apparatus or machine for formingcigars, so constructed and organized that it shall be capable of formingcigars perfectly and of different lengths and diameters, and may besuccessfully worked by any'person of very slight experience; and tothese ends my invention consists in .the use of conically-shapedformers, having their extreme points flattened in connection with a pairof knives or other device for cutting, the whole so arranged as to formthe bunch or core of the cigar, with a nearly conical head, ashereinafter more fully explained; and my inventionfurther consists inthe employment of a series of cylindrical rolls arranged so as toconfine the core or bunch of the cigar between them and roll it with ayielding or elastic pressure, as hereinafter more fully set forth; andmy invention further consists in making the headeivblocks or the concaveboxes between which the conical head is formed yielding, so as to adaptthemselves to different sizes and conditions of the head of the cigarand more perfectly form it; and my. invention further consists in sohanging or ar ranging the yielding rolls that they will yield. morereadily-that is under less pressureat one end than toward the other, ashereinafter more fully explained, for the purpose of rolling the stockup toward the head of the. cigar and perfectly forming and covering thelatter; and my invention further consists in the employment of I a rodor its equivalent running about parallel with the rolls, and so arrangedas to press against the bunch or core while being covered, and cause thewrapper to wind tight on the core and tuck fast, as hereinafter morefully described; andmy invention further consists in providing theheader blocksor sockets with inserted rolls, (or extending one of themain rolls into each of them,) for the purpose of giving motion to thesurface of the conical sockets to decrease the friction and form thehead perfectly,as hereinafter more fully explained; and myinventionfurther consists ,in providing the conical sockets orheader-blockswith a stop or cut-0E red at their extremities, ashereinafter explained, for the purpose of preventing the hook oranyportion of the wrapper from passing out between the two sockets orblocks, and rendering the point or conical tip of the cigar imperfect;and my ,invention further consists in the use of a traveling guide, onwhich the operator places and holds the hook end of the wrapper, andwhich guides the hook in such manner as to always bring it up just rightto the header to form the conical end of the cigar perfectly, as will behereinafter more fully explained; and my invention further consists inthe use of a traveling guide on which the operator places and holds thehook end of the wrapper, and which guides thehook in such manner as toalways bring itrup just right to the header to form the conical end ofthe cigar perfectly, as-will be hereinafter more fully explained; and myinvention further consists in the employment of an adjustable andslightly-yielding stop, against which the butt or blunt end of the cigarcomes, and which stop serves to keep the cigar being formedup toward theheader withoutforcing it too hard in that direction, as hereinafter morefully set forth; and niyinvention further consists in anovel andpeculiar method of gear? ing the rolls together, as hereinafterexplained; and my invention further consists in the combination, withthe series of rolls, of regulator-plates or their equivalents forcausing the several rolls to yield equally or to the Same extent, ashereinafter set forth; and my I invention further consists in formingthe rolls with fine serrations or ridges running longitudinally, wherebythey are. caused tooperate in a more desirable manner on the leaf oftobacco in covering the cigar.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my new machine, I,will proceed to describe its construction and operation, refer-' ring byletters to the accompanying drawings,

forming part of this application, in which' Figure 1 is a top view of mymachine. Fig.

2 is a vertical section at ww,Fig. 1, looking'i'n the directionindicated by the black arrow.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section at y 3 Fig.1, look ingin the directionindicated by the 'red arrow. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section, ofgearing at z z, Fig. 1. Fig.5. is a detail yertical section at line 6 6,Fig.1. Fig. 6 is a partial top view showing the wrapper-guide in anotherposition.- Fig. 7 is a detail top" view of lower halflof header-socket;Fig. 8, vertical section (of both sockets) at Aa, Fig. 7. Figs.

'9 and 10 are detail views which will bepresently explained. Fig. 11 isasimilar View to Fig. 7, but showing another modification of the samepart. views of adjustable stops.

In the several figures the same part of the machine is indicated bythesame letter of ref e'ren 08.

A represents the baseof the machine, which may be of any slzeand'snapedeemed expedi cut. (I propose to make it somewhat after the fashionof asewing-machine table supported by suitable legs.) On this table aresecured or formed two upright stands, B B, which are priivided with twocaps, C and 0, hinged to said stands on one side and united over theirtop by a plate, D, and. in said stands and caps are arranged the boxes VV, &c., in which the journals of the seriesofrollsEare hung. .Theseboxes -V- are arranged to slide in slots cut in the stands B and B (seeFigs. 2 and 3) radially+ that is to say, in direction converging'a pointco-incident to the center of the circle in which the rolls E arearrangedand have arranged in connection with them springs O, which exerta constant tendency (when the rolls arepressed away from a line denotingthe axis of a cylinder in the periphery of which the rolls E arelocated) to cause the rolls E to approach each" other... The rolls E areprovided at one. .end. with .pinions ff,

I which mesh into a driving-pinion, I, thesha t a of which' is hung in astand, E and is provided with a suitable means of applying the motivepower to operate the machine, On the stud a is'also hung a gear, 0,which meshes into a similar gear, D, on the shaft K. This shaft ismounted to turn freely in stands F and L, (see 'Fig. 1,) bolted to baseA, and is provided at its other end, (oppositeto that on which gear Dis, with a pinion, M, which meshes into the rack O of the wrapper-guide,and also into a pinion, N,

on shaft D, (which is supported in the stand E p The rack O is arrangedon the top surface Figs. 12 and 13 are detail of a plate, Q, in such amanner, having pins 7 f that pass through slots 0 in said plate, as thatsaid rack O can move laterally (from side to side) on said plate Q, butcannot move longitudinally thereon. This rack O is periodically movedfrom one side to the other of the top surface of plate Q, and is drivenalternately by pinions M and N, as will bev presently explained. As therack 0 travels longitudinally, it carries with it the plate Q, which isso arranged as to slide in suitable hearings (or on ways) in tops of twostands, P P, on the lower surface of Q. Near its center is a stop, S,which comes against springs R R, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) for purposes to bepresently explained. U U are two stands, in which are arranged'twosliding bars, W and w, the former of which is made with a camlike endand the latter with a square end. Each is provided with a spiral spring,I)" b, and stoppin X, and the two are connected by a crossbar, 0 so thatthey must move together or simultaneously. V V are two other stands, inwhich are two other bars, A and (1 provided with cross-bars e springs band (Z and constructed to operate as the set of bars just beforereferred to. The ofiices and operations of these two sets of slidingbars will he presently explained. J and J are the two conical socketswhich constitute the header, between which the conical head of the cigaris formed, and which are connected to the standtB and its cap 0. Thelower one, J,.

has extending up from it, near its apex, a stop bar, q, (in the form ofthe are of a circle,) which passes through the upper one, J. (Soc Figs.7 and 8. These socket-blocks J J are so arranged as to yield whenpressed against by the confined head of the cigar being formed, and areprovided with minute anti-friction rolls 8, (see Fig. 7,) or in lieuthereof the ro'ils E may be extendinginto said blockJ -J, as shown atFig. 11. As before remarked, the caps O and O (in whieh are hung threeof the rolls E) are hinged to the stands B B, and connected by a topplate, D. One of said caps,\G, is formed orfprovided with a projectinghandle, (21, by means of which said caps and their attachments are swungup and down and which catches under a spring lip, I), (see Figs. 1 and3,) to lock the said caps down.

F is a shaft hung in the line of the hinges of caps .00, and providedwith boxes p p, (see Fig. 1,) into which work the shanks a n of the rodn which shanks work against springs r)" in said boxes 1) p. Said shaftis slotted through horizontally from at to 5, to accommodate the bar h.This bar is-secured at either end to sliding boxes '5 2', arranged ingrooves in the stands H H, and is provided near its center with a block,G. This block G is formed so as to about fill the central space (incrossseetion) between the rolls E i l-(see Fig. 2) and has a revolvingcenter, g, (see Figs. 12, 13,) against which the blunt or butt end ofthe cigar presses while being formed. The blocks 4? I: have eachattached to them rods j, that connect onto springs k attached to chainsZ, which pass through eyes in a crossQbar, at, where they are fastenedby pins 7L2.

' Immediately over the plate Q- is a narrow plate or strip, T, supportedon short studs w,

which serves for the operator to rest and hold the hook end of thewrapper on, as will be directly explained.

c c are the regulator-plates, which are .ar ranged against the outerface of stand 13, and

secured, respectively, to the sliding boxes of of which I have justexplained, I'would re-- mark that the bunch or core is formed in anothermachine, which may be-a duplicate of this, except in the header-sockets.In the machine in which I form the bunchor core (preparatory to puttingon the wrapper, thus finishing the cigar) the header or concave socketsare made in all respects like those alreadydescribed, except that theydo not extend to an apex or sharp point, but are formed like a cone,.(or ot a conical form,) with the apex cut or slabbed off, as seen atA", Figs. 9 and 10, and are provided with knives or shearingblades Ifand 0 as illustrated at Figs. 9 and 10. I propose, also, to have theseries of rolls open apart and close together (for the insertion andremoval of the stock) on a differentline from that shown at Fig. 3, asseen at Fig. 9, but need only state here that it must be borne in mindthat the bunch or core produced by it has a conical end with the extremeend or tip cut off, as illustrated at Fig. 14.

The core or bunch, such as seen at Fig. 14, is placed between the rolls1*], as indicated by the red circles at Fig. 3, when the cap 0 is closeddown, the wrapper being started 011 the butt-end of the core (in theusual manner,) and the stop G being brought up to just about touch thebutt of the core, while its conical end lies just in the socket J J. Theoperator rests the hook of the wrapper (its point) on the top ofwrapper-guide, plate T, so that the wrapper runs from the butt-end ofthe cigar to said plateT, forming. with the line of the plate T and theaxis'of the cigar-core the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle. I amnow supposing the wrapper-guide T, with its traveling bed Q, to be inthe position (relatively to the socket J J) seen at Fig. 6. The machineis now put in motion by the application of any motive power to the maindriving-shaft a, and as the cigar-core is revolved between the rolls Eby their rotation the wrapper is smoothly and tightly wound around it,the

' by the'operators hand, (or finger,) and travellng always toward theheader-socket J J into 1 which it finally passes, and is there woundhead-of the cigar.

i the time the wrapper has been completely 1 the rack O has traveled sofar (in the direction run out from under its driving-pinion N, and

1 this stage of the proceedings the operator (by di'cated 'by arrow,Fig. 1, which causes the traveling bed Q still farther in the directionalso opposite the center of rack "0) to push this movement of the bar Aand d the spring v wrapper nicely smoothed over the core and hook beingheld firmly down on the plate found the v partially-conical head of thecore in such manner as to complete the conical :The" condition of partsshown at Fig.1 represents theprogress of this operation; but by drawn,into the machine and envelops the core indicated by red arrow, Fig. l)as to have the stops on under side of plate Q. has come about u-p'to thespring R. (See Fig. 2.) At

means of a treadle or in anyother desirable manner) presses the bar e inthe direction incam like end of bar A". to come against the periphery ofwheel B and wedge the plate or indicated by red arrow, Fig. 1, andcauses also the square end of bar d" (which is now the rack O bodily andlaterally to the other side of plate Q, as seen at Fig. 6, and thestop'S to push back the spring R. The operator then releases bare,which,together with bars A and d, isforced back to its normal positionby springs 12-. Simultaneously with It, acting against stop S forcesthe'plate Q in a direction opposite to that in which. it was just beforetraveling, and the rack O is thrown in mesh with the pinion M,;which nowdrives it in an opposite direction, carrying it back to the positionshown at Fig. 6. Meantime the cigar, if deemed expedient, is being r0-tated or revolved between the rolls E and its theconical headfinished'up. 'The operator lifts up the handle on, raising the upper three rollE, as seen at Fig. 3, and'taking-out the finished cigar inserts another.core to be covered or wrapped, and pressing the bar 0 in the directionindicated by black arrowv (see Fig. 1) causes the bars W and w tooperate on the plate Q and rack O in a manner similar to that justexplained of bars A and'd, to force the rack 0 over the other side ofplate Q and put it in mesh. with pinion N again, when another wrapper isstarted in and the "operation of winding it on just described isrepeated to complete another cigar. The stop d is adjusted by'means ofchains Z and lock-pins h to suit the length of the cigar beingmanufactured, and is set so it just touches the butt of the core. Now,then, as the core or bunch is compressed between the rolls E'itsbutt-end will press against stop G, which, by reason of springs 70 kwill yield, but at the same time will exert a gentle and continuouspressure against the end of the core,tending to force it up toward theheader J J. When the core is laid in and the end of the wrapper startedaround it, the rod a (see Figs. 1 and 2) operates to hug the end upagainst the core tight and effect a perfect tuck, so that the wrappermay be more readily wound tight, and as the operation progresses thisrod n, which, it will be remembered, is yielding and yields less-readily(under more force) at the butt-end of the cigar than nearer the'head,exerts a constant tend:

ency to press or scrape gently against the side of the cigar and thuscause the wrapper to wind on tight and smooth, and also work the cigar.constantly up toward the conical header, but with a gentle and yieldingpressure.

.The object of making the springs O of all the yielding rolls E strongerat the ends nearest the butt of the cigar, is to cause the rolls E topress hardest againstthe cigar nearest its butt,

whereby the cigar is properly shaped and the- 'to admit of bringing therolls E sufficiently close together to form a small cigar. In thedrawings I have drawn the machine threequarters the size of a workingmachine adapted to make cigars varying indiameter (at the largest part)from the diameter of athree cent silver piece up to the diameter of anickel one-cent. piece. It is very necessary that the rolls E'should allbe capable of yielding, and yet that the extent of movement of eachshould conformto that of the others. This end' I accomplish by means ofthe regulator-plates c and 0 before described.

'The pinions M and N and rack 0 should be made'of such a pitch relativeto pinions f j' and I, and circumference of rolls E, as that.

latter will take up the wrapper in proportion to the velocity atwhichthe wrapper guideplate F moves.

- 1 By the employment of some such means as shown and'described, or theequivalentfthereof, of rendering a portion ofthe surface of the conicalcavity in which the head ofthe cigar is finished, capable of moving withthe moving surface of the stock of the cigar, the conical headis moresmoothly and perfectly formed.

The header-blocks J J ,it will be seen,swing down together so as to formasolid-like block (with a conical cavity within) except at 10 10,

(see Fig; 8,) where each of them is cut away very slightly, so as toallow of the passage of the wrapper-leaf to the head of the cigar. Asthe two halves of the header J J form a joint or crack where they cometogether into or through which the tobacco-leaf might work atsubject tomany changes in the details of its construction without departing fromthe spirit of my invention or changing the modes of operations involvedin the machine.

Having fully explained the construction and operation of my machine, sothat one skilled in the art could make and use it, and not wishing it tobe understood that my invention is limited to the precise detail ofconstruction shown and described,whatI claim as new,and

desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

' 1. Forming the core or bunch with a nearly conical head, thatis-corresponding to the shape of the finished cigar, except in havingits tip out 01f, substantially as shown and described, for the purposeset forth.

2, The employment of a series of yielding rolls adapted to receive andturn the cigarcore -between,-them inthe manner substantially ashereinbefore set forth.

3. The employment of header-blocks J J, mounted in such manner. as toyield to the pressure exerted upon them, inthe manner and for thepurpose describe 4.. So arranging each of the rolls E that it will yieldunder less pressure near the end intended to be nearest the butt of thecigar, sub stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The employment of the springrod N or its equivalent, as and for thepurposes set forth.

6. Combining with the header-block a sock et, inserted rolls, (or acontinuation of the main rolls,) for the purpose of decreasing thefriction or dragging tendency on the surface of the cigar-head. V

.7. The employment, in combination with the header-blocks, of the stop-rod 1 or its equivalent, arranged to operate as and for the purpose setforth.

8. The employment of an automatic guide on which the hook of the-wrappermay be held, and by which it will be guided, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

9. The employment, in combination with the rolls and header-blocks forforming and wrapping the cigar, of anadjustable springing stop G, as 0ndfor the purpose set forth.

10. The combination, with the rolls E, of regulator-plates c 0', ortheir equivalents, the whole arranged to operate substantially as andfor the purposes. described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand-and affixed my sealthis 18th day of May, 1864.

O. G. A. BRINCKMANN. [L. 3.]

'Witnesses:

J. N. MGINTIRE, ANDREW I. TODD.

